Te Deum (Berlioz)

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The Te Deum (Op. 22 / H118) by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869) was completed in 1849. It, like the earlier and more famous Grande Messe des Morts, is one of Berlioz's "architectural" works. Whilst the orchestral forces required for the Te Deum are by no means as titanic as that of the Requiem, the work does call for an organ which can compete on equal terms with the rest of the orchestra. It lasts approximately fifty minutes and derives its text from the traditional Latin Te Deum, although Berlioz made some changes to word order for dramatic purposes.

1 Background and premiere
2 Structure
- 2.1 Orchestration
- 2.2 List of movements
3 Description of the movements
4 Notes
5 Reference
6 External links

[edit] Background and premiere

The Te Deum was originally conceived as the climax of a grand symphony in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte^[1]. Some of the material used by Berlioz in this piece was originally written for his Messe Sollenelle of 1824^[2], thought to have been destroyed by the composer but rediscovered in 1991.

[edit] Structure

[edit] Orchestration

The Te Deum is scored for-

Tenor solo
2 large 3-part (STB) mixed choirs
1 large unison children's choir
4 Flutes (one doubling on Piccolo)
2 Oboes (one doubling on Cor Anglais)
2 Clarinets
1 Bass Clarinet
4 Bassoons
4 French Horns
1 Petit saxhorn (not used in the choral movements)
2 Trumpets
2 Cornets "à pistons"
3 Trombones
1 Ophicleide
1 Tuba
Timpani
4 Snare Drums ("Tamb.")
1 Bass Drum
4 or 5 pairs of Cymbals
12 Harps (not used in the choral movements)
Organ
Strings

^[3].

[edit] List of movements

Neglecting the rarely performed or recorded orchestral Prelude and March^[4], there are six movements to this Te Deum, designated by Berlioz as either hymns (Hymne) or prayers (Prière), except for the last movement which he designated as both. These are listed below: